Visit this wild beach set around a picturesque bay on Wales’ southwest coastline for swimming, watersports and nature walks.
Freshwater East Beach is a beach of rugged natural beauty loved by families, naturalists and watersport enthusiasts. It’s a curving bay of golden sand and rolling dunes situated on Wales’ world-famous Pembrokeshire coastline. At Freshwater East Beach you can enjoy swimming in summer, surfing in winter and relaxed walks all year round.
A great appeal of the beach is its beautiful landscapes and tranquility. Green hills and sand dunes spill down onto a wide bay, where the cool water of the Bristol Channel laps peacefully at the shore. A stream flows gently through the sand toward the southern edge of the beach and a dramatic headland overlooks the bay’s southernmost point.
Time your visit to Freshwater East Beach according to the tides. During low tide you’ll discover a vast expanse of sand ideal for sunbathing, walking and playing beach sports such as cricket and soccer. Go to the northern end of the bay and explore the rocky coves that appear below the cliffs. At high tide the beach area becomes smaller yet rarely overcrowded.
On warmer days, join the other beachgoers and take a swim in the clean, calm water. Watch people practice a wide array of watersports, including canoeing, waterskiing and windsurfing. Surfers should visit in the winter months to ride the waves, which are best at high tide. There are no facilities or rentals at the beach so you’ll need to bring your own equipment.
Running through the dunes and parallel to the beach is a section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a 186-mile (299-kilometer) long trail that winds through jaw-dropping scenery. Walk east to Manorbier Bay, guarded by Manorbier Castle, or west to Greenala Point.
Located in the village of Freshwater East, Freshwater East Beach is a 10-minute drive from Pembroke. Parking is available, for a fee, above the southern end of the beach. A public bus travels several times a day between Freshwater East and Pembroke.
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